Update: the vote described below failed. On May 31st, 159 MPs voted against the motion supporting the recommendations of the special committee on electoral reform, and just 146 MPs voted in favour of it.   

On May 31st, members of parliament (MPs) will have one more chance to move forward on electoral reform. On Wednesday, MPs will vote on whether to accept the recommendations of the report from the House of Commons special committee on electoral reform. If that doesn't happen there is only one logical option for supporters of voter-right's. 

The Special Committee on Electoral Reform wrote a 333 page report that "illustrates clear consensus among experts that our system should be more proportional, consensus among Canadians on the need for more government co-operation across party lines, and consensus among parties on a process for changing the system."

However, in the Prime Minister's mandate letter to Minister of Democratic Institutions, Karina Gould, Justin Trudeau asked her to shelve the promise of replacing the first-past-the-post voting system.

It's possible, though unlikely, that a majority of MPs will vote in favour of the special committee's recommendations to continue pursuing reform, given that Trudeau has clearly expressed his preference to maintain the status quo. Once that happens, it could be years (or even decades), and several elections from now before the electoral reform is made possible through political channels. 

The only alternative to waiting for electoral reform to happen through political means is to raise it as an issue through the court system, and work hard to ensure that the case is heard at the Supreme Court.

Donate today to help raise the $75,000 it will take to initiate work on this Charter Challenge.